Screwdriver attachment



Jan. 2, 1968 s. H. CHARCHENKO 3,361,169

SCREWDRIVER ATTACHMENT Filed June 21, 1965 v Churchgrikd 1 23 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,361,169 SCREWDRIVER ATTACHMENT Sam H. Charcheuko, Watford City, N. Dak. 58854 Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,500 1 Claim. (Cl. 145-51) This invention relates to mechanical tools, more particularly, the invention relates to screwdriver equipment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel tool attachment which acts to facilitate turning screws in and out of material with a screwdriver.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel screwdriver attachment which can be readily attached to a conventional screwdriver and facilitates the use of the screwdriver.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel attachment to a screwdriver which can be easily made 2nd inexpensively attached to the screwdriver stem and ead.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the screwdriver attachment invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the screwdriver attachment invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the screwdriver attachment invention similar to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the screwdriver attachment illustrating the screwdriver attachment in operative use in turning a screw.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the screwdriver attachment with a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sleeve portion of the attachment.

FIGURE 6 is a similar enlarged side view of the screwdriver attachment with the screwdriver projected forward relative to the sleeve into engagement with the screw.

Briefly stated the invention comprises a screwdriver, said screwdriver having an annular sleeve around the head of the screwdriver, a compression spring between the sleeve and the handle of the screwdriver, said sleeve receiving one end of the spring, and having an annular groove engaging the end of the spring with the spring acting to telescope the sleeve over the head of the screwdriver to al gn the screwdriver with respect to the screwdriver in turning screws in and out of material, said sleeve having a second annular groove adapted to engage the head of the screwdriver to limit the telescoping movement of said sleeve.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in FIG- URES 1-3, inclusive, the screwdriver attachment invention 20 is illustrated mounted to a conventional screwdriver 21. The attachment invention 20 has an elongated sleeve or metal tube 22 which surrounds the head or blade 23 of the screwdriver and the forward portion 24 of the stem 24 of the screwdriver. A coil spring 25 surrounds the stem 24 along its rearward portion and is disposed between the rearward end 22 of the sleeve and the handle 26 of the screwdriver.

The elongated sleeve or tube 22 has two annular grooves 27 and 28 along the exterior of the sleeve which form annular V-shaped ridges 27 and 28' along the interior of the sleeve.

The annular groove 27 is adjacent the end 22 of the sleeve and its ridge 27 formed thereby along the interior of the sleeve engages the end 29 of the coil spring 25 and abuts the end of the coil spring so that the spring cannot telescope into the sleeve beyond the groove 27.

The second annular groove 28 is positioned more centrally of the length of the sleeve 22. The second annular groove 28 forms an annular ridge 28 along the interior of the sleeve. The coil spring 25 is under compression as illustrated in FIGURES l-6, so as to continuously urge the sleeve 22 toward the head or blade 23 of the screwdriver and cause the sleeve to telescope over the head of the screwdriver.

The second annular groove limits the telescoping movement of the sleeve 22 by the annular ridge 27' engaging the opposed outwardly flared or outwardly tapered edge portions 30 and 31 of the head 23 of the screwdriver, head 23 of the screwdriver having a larger diameter (from its one edge 33 to its opposite edge 33) than the stem 24 of the screwdriver. The outwardly flared portions 30 and 31 providing a connection between the stern and the head.

Operation The screwdriver attachment invention is operated to screw or turn screws 34 in and out of material 35. The sleeve 22 is normally in its position illustrated in FIG- URES 1-3 and 5 with the sleeve telescoped over the head 23 and the spring 25 under compression continuously urging said sleeve ridge 28 against said tapered edge portion 30 and 31 as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5.

The operator will place the end 22" of the sleeve 22 over the head 33' of the screw 33, with the end 22 flush against the material 35 as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The

head 34' of the screw will have a smaller outside diameter than the inner diameter of the sleeve so as to be freely received in the sleeve as shown in FIGURE 5. It is preferably that the screw diameter be only slightly smaller so that the sleeve will not be able to slide extensively laterally relative to the screw.

Having placed the end 22" of the sleeve over the screw with the end 22 flush against the material, the operator, by grasping the handle, will force the screwdriver toward the screw. This action forces the sleeve 22 to slide back on the stern toward the handle, the operator using sufficient force to overcome the expansion force of the compression spring 25.

The operator will continue to force the screwdriver toward the screw, causing the sleeve to retract, until the forward edge 23 of the blade 23 engages the head 34' of the screw. The operator, while continuing to force the screwdriver toward the screw, will turn the screwdriver until the edge 23' of the blade 23 of the screw 'driver aligns with the groove 34" of the screw 34,

enabling the edge 23' of the blade to slide into the groove 34" and to place the sleeve and screwdriver and spring in its position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6 with respect to the screw and material.

Having introduced the forward blade edge 23' into the groove 34", the sleeve 22 by surrounding the head of the screw keeps the head 01' blade of the screwdriver in generally axial alignment with the screw, so that the blade of the screwdriver will not slide out one side of the groove of the head of the screw inadvertently.

When the blade edge 23' has aligned with the groove in the head of the screw, the operator will continue to turn the handle, with the blade in the groove of the head of the screw, in a direction to unscrew the screw, with the sleeve 22 keeping the blade of the screwdriver in general axial alignment with the screw while unscrewing the screw, so that the head of the blade of the screwdriver will not slide out the groove of the head of the screw.

As the screw is threaded or screwed or turned out of the material 35 by the operator turning the handle of the screwdriver, this causes the head of the screwdriver to retract away from the material and back into the sleeve. However, the compression spring 25 continues to urge the sleeve against the material 34.

Theblade of the screwdriver will retract relative to thesleeve until the tapered edge portions 30 and 31 engage the annular ridge 28', after which the sleeve will move backward with the blade, as the operator continues to unscrew the screw.

It is preferable to have sleeves 22 correspond to and be only slightly larger than the width 33 and 33' of the blade of the screwdriver and to use a sleeve and blade which are only slightly larger than the diameter of the screw head, so that as the screw is unscrewed it Will walk into the sleeve and the outer diameter of the screw being only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve will keep the head of the screw in generally axial alignment with the blade of the screwdriver.

It is also preferable to have the blade, when fully retracted, to be a substantial distance into the sleeve as shown in the embodiments illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4. Consequently when the screwdriver attachment is used to remove a screw that projects downward, as the screw is removed and as the screw ultimately becomes loose it Will not-fall to the floor but it will rest in the socket formed by the end 22' of the sleeve and the retracted blade edge 23'. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4, the head is adapted to retract further into the sleeve before the ridge 28 engages the tapered edges 32 and 33, than the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Thus, it will be seen from the foregoing that a novel screwdriver attachment has been provided which enables a screw to be threaded out of material more rapidly with a screwdriver. The invention also enables the operator to center the head of the screwdriver over the screw and to introduce the head or blade into the groove of the screw more easily and turn the screw more rapidly by the sleeve acting to prevent the blade from sliding oif to one side of the screw.

It will also be seen that the screwdriver may be readily used to screw screws into material as well as out of the material.

Also, it will be seen that the attachment may be mounted to the screwdriver without modification to a conventional screwdriver.

To manufacture the attachment invention, the sleeve 22 is cut to the appropriate size, and the coil spring is slid over the head and onto the stem of the screwdriver. The sleeve is thereafter slid over the head and onto the forward portion of the stem. The coil spring is kept away from the sleeve by suitable means temporarily, and a pipe cutter having a dulled edge is run about the sleeve in two places to form the annular grooves 27 and 28. Thereafter the spring 22 is released and it engages the ridge 27' and urges the sleeve to its normal position illustrated in FIGURES 1 2, 3, and 5.

It will be apparent that various changes and departures may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and accordingly it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specification or illustrated in the drawings, but only as set forth in the appended claims wherein;

4- What is claimed is: 1. A screw turning device comprising in combination a screwdriver and aligning means, said screwdriver having a handle with a stem extending from one end of the handle and a screw turning blade at the forward outer end of the stem with the blade having a diametrically enlarged portion with respect to the stern, a coil spring fitted over the stern, said aligning means including a straight elongated cylindrical tube slidably fitted over the blade and slidably fitted over the stem in radially spaced relation to the stem, said tube having a first deformed annular channel forming a first radially inward projecting ridge positioned rearward of said enlarged portion of said blade and having an inner radius which is less than the radius of enlarged portion of the blade so that the first ridge will engage the enlarged portion of blade and limit the forward movement of the tube relative to the stem and blade, said first ridge being spaced rearward from the forward end of the tube a distance greater than the length of the blade whereby when the first ridge is engaging the enlarged portion the tube will project forward beyond the forward end of the blade, said tube having a second deformed annular channel spaced rearward from said first channel a distance greater than the width of the tube and adjacent the rearward end of the tube with said second annular channel forming a second radially inwardly projecting annular ridge with the inner radius of said second ridge being smaller than the outer radius of the coil spring whereby the forward end of the coil spring will abut the second ridge, said rearward end of said tube rearward of said second channel member having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said coil spring for receiving the forward end of said coil spring therein, said first and second inner ridges also serving to align said tube with respect to said stem, said rearward end of said spring abutting said handle and said spring being under compression and urging said tube forward until the first ridge engages the enlarged portion of the blade, said second ridge being spaced forward from the rearward end of the tube a distance less than the axial length of the coil spring when the first ridge abuts the enlarged portion of the blade so that only a minor portion of the forward end of the coil spring is socketed into the rearward end of the tube and against the second ridge, said tube being substantially straight and cylindrical from the said first annular channel member to the forward end of the tube, said tube being free of any positive rearward limiting means to prevent the tube from sliding rearward in opposition to the spring.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 925,459 3/1955 Germany. 1,176,832 11/1958 France.

155,844 10/1932 Switzerland.

OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primar Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, 1a., Assistant Examiner, 

1. A SCREW TURNING DEVICE COMPRISING A COMBINATION A SCREWDRIVER AND ALIGNING MEANS, SAID SCREWDRIVER HAVING A HANDLE WITH A STEM EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF THE HANDLE AND A SCREW TURNING BLADE AT THE FORWARD OUTER END OF THE STEM WITH THE BLADE HAVING A DIAMETRICALLY ENLARGED PORTION WITH RESPECT TO THE STEM, A COIL SPRING FITTED OVER THE STEM, SAID ALIGNING MEANS INCLUDING A STRAIGHT ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL TUBE SLIDABLY FITTED OVER THE BLADE AND SLIDABLY FITTED OVER THE STEM IN RADIALLY SPACED RELATION TO THE STEM, SAID TUBE HAVING A FIRST DEFORMED ANNULAR CHANNEL FORMING A FIRST RADIALLY INWARD PROJECTING RIDGE POSITIONED REARWARD OF SAID ENLARGED PORTION OF SAID BLADE AND HAVING AN INNER RADIUS WHICH IS LESS THAN THE RADIUS OF ENLARGED PORTION OF THE BLADE SO THAT THE FIRST RIDGE WILL ENGAGE THE ENLARGED PORTION OF BLADE AND LIMIT THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE TUBE RELATIVE TO THE STEM AND BLADE, SAID FIRST RIDGE BEING SPACED REARWARD FROM THE FORWARD END OF THE TUBE A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE BLADE WHEREBY WHEN THE FIRST RIDGE IS ENGAGING THE ENLARGED PORTION THE TUBE WILL PROJECT FORWARD BEYOND THE FORWARD END OF THE BLADE, SAID TUBE HAVING A SECOND DEFORMED ANNULAR CHANNEL SPACED REARWARD FROM SAID FIRST CHANNEL A DISTANCE GREATER THEN THE WIDTH OF THE TUBE AND ADJACENT THE REARWARD END OF THE TUBE WITH SAID SECOND ANNULAR CHANNEL FORMING A SECOND RADIALLY INWARDLY PROJECTING ANNULLAR RIDGE WITH THE INNER RADIUS OF SAID SECOND RIDGE BEING SMALLER THAN THE OUTER RADIUS OF THE COIL SPRING WHEREBY THE FORWARD END OF THE COIL SPRING WILL ABUT THE SECOND RIDGE, SAID REARWARD END OF SAID TUBE REARWARD OF SAID SECOND CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING AN INNER DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE OUTER DIAMETER OF SAID COIL SPRING FOR RECEIVING THE FORWARD END OF SAID COIL SPRING THEREIN, SAID FIRST AND SECOND INNER RIDGES ALSO SERVING TO ALIGN SAID TUBE WITH RESPECT TO SAID STEM, SAID REARWARD END OF SAID SPRING ABUTTING SAID HANDLE AND SAID SPRING BEING UNDER COMPRESSION AND URGING SAID TUBE FORWARD UNTIL THE FIRST RIDGE ENGAGES THE ENLARGED PORTION OF THE BLADE, SAID SECOND RIDGE BEING SPACED FORWARD FROM THE REARWARD END OF THE TUBE A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE AXIAL LENGTH OF THE COIL SPRING WHEN THE FIRST RIDGE ABUTS THE ENLARGED PORTION OF THE BLADE SO THAT ONLY A MINOR PORTION OF THE FORWARD END OF THE COIL SPRING IN SOCKETED INTO THE REARWARD END OF THE TUBE AND AGAINST THE SECOND RIDGE, SAID TUBE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT AND CYLINDRICAL FROM THE SAID FIRST ANNULAR CHANNEL MEMBER TO THE FORWARD END OF THE TUBE, SAID TUBE BEING FREE OF ANY POSITIVE REARWARD LIMITING MEANS TO PREVENT THE TUBE FROM SLIDING REARWARD IN OPPOSITION TO THE SPRING. 